St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-30
ALASKA AS 1T is.
Interesting Facts About the North
western Territory.


]. B. Hammond, of Douglas island,
Alaska, arrived in st. Louis yesterday
and is guest at the Southern, says the
Globe-Democrat. Mr. Hammond has
just returned from his fourth trip to
Uncle Sans frozen possessions, and
gives some interesting and valuable in
formation with relation to that country,
its prospects and development. Mr.
Hammond left Douglas island Nov. 20,
and came through by way of San Fran
cisco. He is a mining engineer, and
states that the mining interest in
Alaska, and notably on Douglas island,
is in highly prosperous condition.
Gold yields the best returns. and there
is little effort made to secure silver and
copper, of which there are very fair de-
pOsits.
1.-The mining interest now leads Alas
kan industries" said Mr.. Hammond.
next come the fisheries, and then
furs. Douglas island is really the great
mining district at present, containing
the only mines in the territory worked
by machinery. There are exceedingly
large veins of pay Ore-the largest in
the surface mines of the world, in fact
and there is great promise in them for
the future. There is a miSapprehen-
sion in many quarters as to the climate
of Alaska. Along the SeacOaSt it is
mild, very rarely cold, and have never
seen the thermometer register more
than IS below zero. In the interior it
is very cold"
GLOW about the natives?"
1--WE have worked from fifty to 40 of
them in the mines, and have found them
excellent laborers in surface mining,
while they are no good when placed in
the bowels of the earth. They are
sturdy and withstand any sort of hard
ship, as is evidenced by their Journeys
from the coast to the interior with food,
many of them willingly carrying 100
pounds apiece. A great deal of this sort
of work devOlveS upon them, as there
are no pack animals in the territory,
and there are not three miles of wagon
road in Alaska"
lis the territory filling up rapidly?"
mo, l presume there are not more
than $500 whites in the territory and
$4,000 native Indians"
''What is the present population of
Sitka?'
Much less than is generally pre-
sumed by the mass of people. 1t is be-
tween 600 and $780,"
''How about the fisheries?"
Il mlSII tcll yOu SOllic tIulllS dUOuI
the salmon fisheries which would seem
incredible. There are a great many
salmon canneries in the territory, and
they are prosperous because they have
so little trouble in securing the fish. In
the small streams they are found in vast
numbers, some weighing between forty
and fifty pounds, and are captured with
out effort, either with spear, hook or
net. Whaling has been more success
full the present season than ever be-
FORE"
SIS the territory improving rapidly?'
"Yes: it is destined to become great
mining center, and everything is in its
favor. For instance, during the present
year l have shipped over 100000 pounds
of mining machinery from New York to
Alaska, at the rate of S1.40 per 100
pounds"
s'How were your shipments made?"
''By the Canadian Pacific to Victoria,
B. C., and from there by Pacific coast
steamer to Douglas island"
Mr.. Hammond carries cane which is
a marvellous piece of workmanship,
considering that it was done by an
Alaska native, with a punch and block
of wood as his only tools. 1t is mounted
with a miniature idol, in copper, the
design being a large head with glar-
ing eyes and wide open mouth, contain
ing two perfect rows of teeth, and ON
either side long tusk. Between the
teeth is smaller figure with the visage
of a demon, arms akimbO, the head
decorated with pair of satanic horns.
1T is miniature imitation of the Ia
tum pole" which the natives worship"
said Mr.. Hammond, land was pre-
scented to me by one of my Indian en-
ployes in the mines. They are quite
adept in this line of artistic work, and
turn out some queer designs in gold and
silver jewelry."
"Are the Indians friendly or treacher-
ous?'
Friendly. They are not permitted
by the government to have whisky, and
due caution is exercised in furnishing
them with firearms. the government
prohibiting the sale of improved breech-
loading weapons, but allowing them to
have the old muzzle-loaders. They are
very apt, and soon become good Shots"
''When do you return to Alaskan"
0''1n the early part of the coming year.
l am bound East on mining matters"
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